Wildcard by Cheyenne McCray Page B

like a witch’s cauldron—even the lights beneath the surface appeared green and eerie, as though it truly was a magical potion. She started forward then hesitated.
    What the hell. She was alone—the backyard was completely enclosed. It was secluded and hidden from view by countless trees and bushes, so no one could see her. And Dee and Jake would be gone ‘til tomorrow.
    Trace stripped out of her bra and bikini underwear, her nipples growing painfully hard in the cool air. When she walked in front of one heater, its warmth radiated along one side, the chilly air brushing her other side.
    She stepped down into the hot tub and sighed in complete bliss as she sank into the warmth and settled onto the underwater bench. Jets of water pulsated along her skin while she breathed deep of the clear and clean country evening air. She’d forgotten how dry the Arizona desert was—it felt somehow lighter here than in England.
    While she relaxed, for the millionth time her thoughts returned to last night.
    To Jess Lawless.
    Everything about the man screamed sex. Rough, wild, and hard…all that Harold couldn’t begin to give her.
    No, Harold couldn’t be considered wild about anything…anything other than Wildgames, that was. He was a shrewd businessman, but he was calm and refined as a boyfriend and as a lover. There’d never been any fireworks with him, but it had always been comfortable and enjoyable.
    Trace rolled her gaze heavenward and stared into the darkening sky and sighed. Here she was, thinking about her possible future husband, and she could muster up no real enthusiasm for their sexual relationship.
    But when she thought of that cowboy…there was nothing remotely calm or unemotional about how he’d made her feel. In just that short time she’d been with him, he’d made her feel sexy and alive .
    Infatuation, Trace, that’s all it is. The grass is always greener…
    She closed her eyes and focused on the feel of the heaters warming the back of her head, the water bubbling at her nipples and jets pulsating along her legs. Spreading her thighs, she adjusted her hips so that one of the jets aimed right at her pussy. Mmmm, yeah . That felt so good. She could almost imagine Jess licking her right where the water pulsed. Maybe he’d bite her there…not too hard, but enough that it would drive her even crazier for want and need of him.
    Trace slipped the fingers of one hand between her thighs and into her slit. Even through the water she could feel the creaminess of her desire, the slickness of her pussy.
    She brought her other hand to her breast and kneaded and plucked her nipple. Eyes still closed, she fantasized about sucking her own nipples while Jess devoured her pussy. She raised her breast and flicked her tongue across the hard nub. A pleasant warm lick that immediately chilled in the night air until she licked it again.
    Her fingers aided the jets, stroking her clit harder and harder, her tongue flicking again and again over her nipple, urging her closer and closer to climax. Imagining Jess’s tongue all over her body. Imagining Jess sliding his cock into her core—
    The squeak of the French doors jolted Trace from her fantasy.
    Her eyes snapped open and she jerked her head up to see the large figure of a man. He stood beside the hot tub, his face shadowed by a dark cowboy hat.
    “Welcome home, Trace MacLeod,” he murmured.
     

Chapter Five
    Jess.
    Trace would recognize that deep, sensual drawl anywhere.
    Omigod.
    Heated embarrassment prickled her skin. She wanted to die from humiliation at being caught masturbating—by the very man she’d been fantasizing about. And darn it if her brain and mouth hadn’t taken another vacation. She slid further beneath the water so that her breasts were hidden by the bubbles and crossed her arms over her chest for good measure.
    “Uh-uh.” He crouched down beside the hot tub, and pushed his Stetson up with one finger. She could clearly see his roguish blue eyes in